Result: NBHA West Kentucky Field Trial Club

Location: Dixon, Kentucky

Post Date: Jan 23, 2025

Submitted By: Michael Stovall & Mary Sue Schalk

Open Puppy (l-r): Crouse's Buffalo Junction with Mary Sue Schalk (owner/handler), PB John the Baptist with Brian Stockrahm (owner/handler), and Woodsway's News Flash with Eryn Pearson (owner/handler). (Standing): Ben Weddington (judge), Michael Stovall (judge), and M. D. Crouse (dog wagon driver).

Open Stakes Recap
October 25, 2024, presented itself as a great day for a field trial. The morning started in the 60s and was mostly sunny. Mike Crouse and his daughter, Mary Sue Schalk, had the grounds set up, and Kerri Postletheweight, a new neighbor of the Crouse family, greeted the competitors upon arrival. The trial started on time with the Open Puppy stake. Michael Stovall and Ben Weddington judged this stake.

The first brace of puppies started with Woodsway's News Flash, an English Setter female handled by Ms. Eryn Pearson, and Crouse's Outcast, an English Setter female handled by Ms. Mary Sue Schalk. The course took the young ones up into a well-groomed field. News Flash was seen going into cover frequently and stayed well in front of her handler. News Flash checked in for direction and accepted her direction with enthusiasm. Outcast was eager to follow the young setter. Outcast covered the ground well but did not take the lead very often.

The second brace started at the same place and ran the same circular course. PB John the Baptist, an English Pointer handled by Mr. Brian Stockrahm, was braced with Crouse's Grouse Feather, an English Setter handled by Mary Sue Schalk. The dogs took a nice line off the start, following the course well. John the Baptist pushed out in front and moved from objective to objective. Very little handling was given, yet he was always seen out in front of his handler. He pushed well in a brace that started feeling a rise in temperature. Crouse's Grouse Feather intelligently moved from cover to cover but stayed closer to his handler.

The last brace had the standout of Crouse's Buffalo Junction, a Pointer male handled by Mary Sue Schalk. Buffalo Junction covered the ground well, ranging out well yet still taking cues from his handler. Buffalo Junction pushed out further than the other puppies that were running, going from objective to objective. He stayed in cover and did not shy away from any place that might hide a bird. At the 18-minute mark, he managed to get into a few birds and was standing proud for that.

The Open Puppy sorted out with third place Woodsway's News Flash for owner/handler Eryn Pearson, second place PB John the Baptist for owner/handler Brian Stockrahm, and first place Crouse's Buffalo Trace for owners Mike Crouse and Mary Sue Schalk, handled by Schalk. Each dog showed that their breed had great dogs waiting in the wings.

The Open Shooting Dog stakes started with warming temperatures and clouds moving in to create overcast stakes. The course was a 30-minute out course and a 30-minute back course. The course started in a stripped-mowed field that had several clusters of scrub oaks. It proceeded over a small creek into a similar field. This field ended with another creek crossing and went to a wood-lined field with some cover woods. There was a third creek crossing into a corn field with stripped mowed parcels on multiple sides, providing good cover for birds to hide. At the end of the stripped mowed area ended in a final section of cover woods. The course for the even braces ran the same course in reverse. The stakes were judged by Michael Stovall and Alan Benson.
Crouse's Total Eclipse, a Pointer female handled by Mary Sue Schalk, drew Outcast Siren Song, an English Setter female handled by Mr. James Kleve. The dogs broke well and quickly took lines up the hill, ranging out of sight of the gallery fairly quickly. Eclipse would keep popping out of heavy cover and would dive back into the next piece of cover that she found. Outcast Siren Song pushed to stay out in front as well, making smart use of the lines and scavenging the cover at every opportunity. As they entered the second field, Eclipse took a straight line up one row, and Siren took a parallel line. Eclipse made it about halfway across the field, shadowing a strip of sorghum and other cover, and slammed on point at the 12-minute mark. Eclipse was seen standing very proud, nose up and tail at 12 o'clock. Her handler had trouble moving a bird that kept running in front of her, but she held her ground through all the frey. The bird was moved and blanked, and the dog was recast. Siren did not have an opportunity to back. The rest of the brace was a continuation of following lines and checking out the cover that they were presented with. Siren was a strong runner throughout the brace and finished strong.

The second brace consisted of an English Setter male handled by Mr. Kleve, Vitali's Grouseringer, and Woodward's Donald Duck, a Pointer male handled by Ms. Schalk. Both dogs had a clean break and came out of the cover on a mission. The Pointer disappeared down a line, and the setter darted from patches of cover to cover. As the gallery came over the hill, the Setter was found standing in the path. Upon closer examination, the Pointer could be seen on point in front of him at the 6-minute mark that did not produce a bird. The remainder of the brace was an exhibition of big running dogs. The Pointer stayed well in front and was not seen again till about the 20-minute time from running the field on the far side of the creek. The English Setter checked in a little more but had nice range on him as well. The Setter pushed through the cover well and tried diligently to come up with a bird.

The third brace was between Blue Mound's True Class, a Pointer female owned and handled by Mr. Dan Crunk, and Island Dancer, an English Setter female handled by Mr. Kleve. True Class went from line to cover, through the cover, and off to the next objective. The Pointer moved well in front and handled well. The English Setter took lines and ranged well also. The temperature was rising during this brace, presenting a challenge for the dogs running. At about the 13-minute mark, the Setter was picked up by his handler. The pointer ran hard the whole brace and would only stand still for a quick drink once.

The last brace was a shoot-out between Hytime Dixie, an English Setter female owned and handled by Mr. Ben Weddington, and Outcast Duststorm, another English Setter female handled by Mr. Kleve. Both dogs broke and covered the ground very well. Dixie had strings of big runs and would come close enough to check in to get direction from her handler on where to go next. Duststorm was a bigger running dog, taking long lines and covering ground well. Duststorm stayed out in front and never came from behind the whole brace. At the 27-minute mark, as the handlers crested a small hill, Dixie was found standing in a disced strip on the downwind side of some cover. Her handler searched diligently for a bird, but a bird was never moved from this point.

The stake shook out with Outcast Siren Song in third place, owned by John Clough and handled by James Kleve, Blue Mound's True Class, owned and handled by Dan Crunk, in second, and Crouse's Total Eclipse, owned by Mike Crouse and Mary Sue Schalk, handled by Schalk in first.

The Open Derby stake drew eight young dogs, judged by Alan Benson and Ben Weddington.
Four English Setter males, two Pointer females, one German Shorthair female, and one Pointer male. Besting the field was Miss Grace, a Pointer female, owned and handled by Dan Crunk of Walnut Hill, Illinois. The solid white female ran strong to the front, applying herself with precision to the edges and cover to be hunted. She was paired with English Setter male Vitali Grouseringer Salute, owned by Gary Vitali and handled by James Kleve. Salute also hit the cover with enthusiasm and displayed a true desire to locate the illusive Bob White. He earned second place with his efforts.
Earning the third-place stop was CAS Dreamfyre, a Pointer female owned by Keith McCaslin and handled by Eryn Pearson. Dreamfyre was biddable and organized in her approach to hunting. Stylish in her goings and eager to please her handler, she displayed the traits of a young dog who has the potential to make the grade of anyone's hunting string. She was paired with Reba, a German Shorthair female, owned and handled by Michael Stovall. Reba started off strong; however, this being her first time with horses, she struggled to stay to the front, not knowing what those great beasts were there to do.

The Open Derby concluded the Open events and the day of competition on Friday, October 25.

Amateur Stakes Recap
The Amateur Stakes drew a solid entry for a Puppy, Shooting Dog, and Derby stake. The Amateur events also included some of the competitors from the Open stakes, thus providing wins in both categories for some dogs. Saturday, October 26, again provided a beautiful day for a field trial at Crouse Kennel in Dixon, Kentucky. Kicking off the day's events was the Amateur Puppy stake of eight entries, judged by Cora Clary and Ty Vincent.
Brian Stockrahm returned with Pointer male PB John the Baptist. The two were paired with Anna Katherine Schalk and her English Setter male, Crouse's Grouse Feather. As usual, Stockrahm and Schalk put on a show for all to enjoy. Both pups had as much, or more fun, as their human counterparts. Hunting independently with enthusiasm, it was easy to understand why the judges used these two pups first and second in the stake. There was never a moment when these two youngsters weren't eagerly applying themselves to the terrain. Crouse's Grouse Feather earned the blue for Anna Katherine Schalk, while PB John the Baptist took the red for Stockrahm.
Earning the third-place spot on the podium was Ramey's Elhew Justified for owners Melanie Ramey and Matt Pendergest. Ramey handled the strong liver and white Pointer male with bracemate Woodsway's News Flash and owner/handler Eryn Pearson. Justified enjoyed hunting a new location and the connection between pup and handler was evident. Although his race was shorter than the top two dogs, this pup displayed a desire to locate game for his handler. A solid class of puppies kicked off the events of the day.

The Amateur Shooting Dog stake, also drew eight entries, was judged by Ty Vincent and Josh Griggs. Besting the field was an English Setter female, handled by Mary Sue Schalk. John Clough's Outcast Siren Song handled well for Schalk, was classy as always, and easily earned the top spot with her canny ability to apply herself to any and all terrain. Outcast Duststorm, kennelmate to Siren Song, earned the second-place spot, also handled by Schalk. Duststorm's race projected itself more to that of an all-age dog, thus separating her from the top spot. Owned by Jim Kleve, this tri-color English Setter female is only a first-year shooting dog.
Earning third place for Al Fazenbaker and Ed Liermann was Conneaut Creek Scenic River. The Irish Setter male was biddable for handler Fazenbaker and enjoyed his time hunting far from home. We appreciated the Fazenbaker team making the distant trek to participate in our event. We certainly enjoyed watching the red dog work in the heat and almost get some birds pointed in his half hour. He stood at 17; however, no birds were raised. Still a solid performance, and well done for the third-place dog.

Wrapping up the weekend was the Amateur Derby stake, drawing the largest entry of the weekend with 10 dogs, eight Pointers, and two English Setters. Judged by Ty Vincent and James Kleve, these young dogs were put to the test in the heat of the weekend.
The top three dogs were first place Setter Ridge Power Play, an English Setter male, owned by Brad Peterson and handled by Mary Sue Schalk; second place PB Texas Tornado, a Pointer female, owned and handled by Brian Stockrahm; third place Crouse's Buffalo Junction, a Pointer male, owned by Mike Crouse and Mary Sue Schalk, handled by Schalk.
Power Play was a class above, running strong in the heat and producing birds early in his half hour. He stood for one step of his handler into the cover, and as birds raised, he enjoyed the privilege of youth and went with the covey. After the game contact, Power Play continued to gain strength on the ground, regardless of the temperature and helped everyone forget the heat. Tornado danced across the ground like a ballerina. She was a pleasure to watch; with little guidance from her handler, she showed to the front and made the half-hour fly by with her eagerness and grace on the ground. Rounding out the field, Buffalo Junction had a closer race than the day prior but still displayed his strong desire to hunt birds digging into Egyptian wheat in an effort to find quail. All three dogs were solid dogs for the podium.

Thanks and Appreciation
This is the second National Bird Hunters event that has been held at Crouse Kennel in Dixon, Kentucky. We certainly appreciate it and cannot say enough about the National Bird Hunters Association and its sponsors. A spring event will be held in April 2025, and both Mary Sue Schalk and Mike Crouse would like to extend an invitation to all. Many thanks to Mel Ramey and Prestige Pointers for providing the meal for Friday evening; Upland Addiction Lodge and Tara Woodward for providing a special rate for field trialers; Matt Schalk for preparing a meal Saturday evening; Kerri Postletheweight and Sarah Clary for greeting participants and helping with housekeeping tasks; and for Mike Crouse and Ed Rader for helping with and driving the dog wagon. We can never say thank you enough! Hope to see you in the spring.

Dixon, Ky., October 25
Judges: Michael Stovall and Ben Weddington
NBHA OPEN PUPPY - 3 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-CROUSE'S BUFFALO JUNCTION, F1706610, pointer male, by Crouse's Pond River Gus-Buffalo Junction Holler Point. M. D. Crouse & Mary Sue Schalk, owners; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
2d-PB JOHN THE BAPTIST, F1708723, pointer male, by Small's White Charger-Blue Mound's Main Street. Brian Stockrahm, owner and handler.
3d-WOODSWAY'S NEWS FLASH, F1714661, setter female, by Grin'n N Bear It-Woodsway Frankly My Dear. Eryn Pearson, owner and handler.

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Crouse's Total Eclipse with Mary Sue Schalk (handler), Blue Mound's True Class with Dan Crunk (owner/handler), and Outcast Siren Song with James Kleve (handler). (Standing): Ben Weddington, Alan Benson (judge), Brian Stockrahm, M. D. Crouse (dog wagon driver), and Michael Stovall (judge).

Judges: Alan Benson and Michael Stovall
NBHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 3 Pointers and 5 Setters
1st-CROUSE'S TOTAL ECLIPSE, F1673980, pointer female, by Crouse's Ebony Masterpiece-Crouse's Gerri Wind. M. D. Crouse, owner; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
2d-BLUE MOUND'S TRUE CLASS, F1688818, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True-Phillips White Mist. Dan Crunk, owner and handler.
3d-OUTCAST SIREN SONG, F1703063, setter female, by Outcast Jericho Hilltopper-Outcast Clear Vision. John Clough, owner; James Kleve, handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Miss Grace with Dan Crunk (owner/handler), Vitali Grouseringer Salute with James Kleve (handler), and Cas Dreamfyre with Eryn Pearson (handler). (Standing): Ben Weddington (judge), Alan Benson (judge), Mary Sue Schalk (scout), and M. D. Crouse (dog wagon driver).

Judges: Alen Benson and Ben Weddington
NBHA OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers, 4 Setters and 1 German Shorthair
1st-MISS GRACE, F1704743, pointer female, by Small's White Charger-Blue Mound's Mainstreet. Dan Crunk, owner and handler.
2d-VITALI GROUSERINGER SALUTE, F1705007, setter male, by Emert's Grouse Ringer T-Chippewa's Undecided. Gary Vitali, owner; James Kleve, handler.
3d-CAS DREAMFYRE, F1710287, pointer female, by Cas Slim Speedy Halo-Gigi Broken Halo. Keith McCaslin, owner; Eryn Pearson, handler.

Amateur Puppy (l-r): A. K. Schalk (handler) with Crouse's Grouse Feather and Mary Sue Schalk (scout), PB John the Baptist with Brian Stockrahm (owner/handler), and Ramey's Elhew Justified with Melanie Ramey (owner/handler). (Standing): Ty Vincent (judge), M. D. Crouse (dog wagon driver), and Cora Clary (judge).

Judges: Cora Clarg and Ty Vincent
NBHA AMATEUR PUPPY - 8 Entries
1st-CROUSE'S GROUSE FEATHER, F1713380, setter male, by Shagtime Max-GF Southern Belle. Mary Sue Schalk & M. D. Crouse, owners; A. K. Schalk, handler.
2d-PB JOHN THE BAPTIST, F1708723, pointer male, by Small's White Charger-Blue Mound's Main Street. Brian Stockrahm, owner and handler.
3d-RAMEY'S ELHEW JUSTIFIED, F1711172, pointer male, by Elhew Fibber McGee-Ramey's Hackberry Sinsation. Melanie Ramey & Matt Pendergest, owners; Melanie Ramey, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog(l-r): Outcast Siren Song with Cora Clary (scout), Outcast Duststorm with Mary Sue Schalk (handler), and Conneaut Creek Scenic River with Al Fazenbaker (owner/handler). (Standing): Ty Vincent (judge), M. D. Crouse (dog wagon driver), and Josh Griggs (judge).

Judges: Josh Griggs and Ty Vincent
NBHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 3 Pointers, 2 Setters, and 3 Irish Setters
1st-OUTCAST SIREN SONG, F1703063, setter female, by Outcast Jericho Hilltopper-Outcast Clear Vision. John Clough, owner; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
2d-OUTCAST DUSTSTORM, F1701277, setter female, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Outcast Stardust. James W. Kleve, owner; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
3d-CONNEAUT CREEK SCENIC RIVER, F1693481, Irish setter male, by Cedar Creek Talon-Cedar Creek's Skyline Belle. Al Fazenbaker & Ed Liermann, owners; Al Fazenbaker, handler.

Judges: James Kleve and Ty Vincent
NBHA AMATEUR DERBY - 10 Entries
1st-SETTER RIDGE POWER PLAY, F1704698, setter male, by Cold Creek Hank-Cold Creek Belle. Brad Peterson, owner; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
2d-PB TEXAS TORNADO, F1705951, pointer female, by Shorty Gotta Skeet-Peregrine's Jersey Girl. Brian Stockrahm, owner and handler.
3d-CROUSE'S BUFFALO JUNCTION, F1706610, pointer male, by Crouse's Pond River Gus-Buffalo Junction Holler Point. M. D. Crouse & Mary Sue Schalk, owners; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.

Amateur Derby (l-r): Setter Ridge Power Play with Mary Sue Schalk (handler), Anna Katherine Schalk, PB Texas Tornado with Brian Stockrahm (owner/handler), and Crouse's Buffalo Junction with owner M. D. Crouse (owner). (Standing): James Kleve (judge), Ty Vincent (judge), and Matt Schalk.